Book or sheet holder



j 39, 1936.. T RYANG 2,046,134

' BOOK OR SHEET HOLDER 7 Filed Nov. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l jg H lnv'erzi'ar Ear? 1215? an .Fame 30, 1936. E. 'r. RYANG BOOK OR SHEET HOLDER Filed Nov. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I I I 1 I 1 I n O IIIIIIi Inventor Earl TJEya/ Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to sheet and book-holding racks, particularly such as are used for holding copy for typewriters, or as music racks.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of copyholding rack which is foldable into compact form and capable of being readily set up or folded by a few simple operations; to provide a sheet-holding rack comprising a plurality of narrow bars secured in skeleton frame relation so as to form a substantial backing for supporting a copy sheet and adapted to be swung relatively to each other so that all the parts may lie one against the other in a compact assembly; and to provide a standard of improved form and arrangement to support the rack effectively in use and contractible to a length but little greater than the width of the copyholding rack and adapted to serve as a housing for the rack in its folded position.

These objects are accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a copyholder constructed according to my invention and particularly designed as a typewriter copyholder.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the central plane of the standard and rack with the parts occupying substantially the same position in which they are illustrated in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail in plan of the upper end of the standard in a position corresponding to that of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear view of the rack in a partly folded position.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the rack in its completely folded position.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the standard.

Fig. '7 is a detail of the lower end of the standard.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary bottom view of the base structure when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6. r

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail taken at the end of the main beam of the copy-holding rack on the line 99 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a detail of the joint between the cross arms at the middle of the copyholding rack.

Fig. 11 is a front view of the standard illustrating its appearance when contracted and closed with the rack housed within it in the compact portable form in which the device appears when ready for storage or shipment.

While the device shown has a considerable range of utility, it is particularly designed for compact storage; as for example, in a form suitable for use in connection with a portable typewriter.

In the forms shown, the standard comprises a main member I of rectangular cross section and of tubular or channel form, within which is tele- 5 scopically slidable a second channel-shaped member 2.

In the forms shown, the member I is open at the front side and provided with inwardly facing front flanges 3 which overlap the front edges of 10 the side portions of the member 2, so as to confine the latter telescopically within the member I. At the upper end of the member I, a pivoted dog 4 has pawl portions 5 that engage notches 6 in the member 2 for locking the latter in various 15 positions of adjustment. The dog is provided with a spring I that holds the pawls in engagement with the member 2 and has a tail 8 which may be depressed to lift the pawls out of their notches 6.

A third channel shaped member 9, preferably of the same transverse form as the member 2, is pivotally connected to the upper end of the member 2 and is swingable between a position of alinement with the member 2 and the inclined position in which it is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A pair of pawls I0 pivoted on opposite sides of the member 9 engages notches II and I2 in a head I3 of the member 2 for securing this member 9 in either of these two limiting positions. The pawls I0 are preferably mounted on the squared ends of the pivot pin I4 so that they swing in unison with each other. Pins I5 are limit stops for the movement of the pawls I0.

Fitted within the lower end of the member I of the standard is a heel block I6 which has a pivot pin I! whose projecting ends are seated in slots I8 in the side flanges of the member I, so that said heel block may be moved from the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 to a position for closing the end of the member I, as is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7.

The member I of the standard is supported in the vertical position in which it is shown in Figures 1 and 2 by means of a pair of foot bars I9 which are secured to the bottom end of the heel block I6 by pivots 20 (Fig. 8) and these foot bars are movable between the spread position, shown in Fig. l, and the side-by-side position in which they are shown in Fig. 8.

A pivoted latch member 2| locks these foot bars I9 in their spread position. This latch is provided with shoulders 22 which extend into grooves 23 in the inside faces of the adjacent portions of the bars I9 and hold the lower end of the standard firmly against the bars l9 as well as keeping these bars spreadapart. This latch member 2| may be swung upwardly 180 in its released position as shown in Figure 7, and the heel block It may then he slid down alongthe slot l8 so that the bars 19 may be brought together and laid along the open face of the'channel member i to close said face when the parts are in their housed position. 7

y The upper end of the standard member closed by means of a head block which has seats 26 for receiving the arms 2i that carry the rack or copyholder frame. The adjacent ends of these arms 21 are oppositely mortised and interlocked in crossed relation as may be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and are seated in these grooves 26 bydropping them downwardly from the top and then looking them in that position by means of a pivoted button 28. In Fig. 3 this button is show'n in full lines in the position which it occupies to admit the arms 21 into the grooves. 26. It may be turned to the position in which it is shown in Fig.

2 in which it rigidly locks these arms in place on I the standard.'

' The co'pyholder or sheet rack comprises a main horizontal beam. 3!! upon which are mounted at its middle point the crossed diagonal bars 3 I.

The diagonal bars 3| are mounted in scissors relation on the pivot 32. Traveler blocks 33 are mounted on the outer ends of the beam 39 to slide along the slots 34and each of these traveler blocks carries a pair of toggle arms 35 and 36 which are pivoted to'each other and the'block 33 by a pin 3'l. The toggle arms 35 and 36 are also pivoted at their outer ends to the bars 3| at 35.! and 35.1 respectively, in such manner that when .theItraveler and when the traveler blocks occupy the outer V cured against accidental shifting out of.this ex- 7 limits of their travel, the bars 3! will be brought together so as to lie alongthe beam 30, this relationship being further'illustrated in Fig. 4;

The forward; ends of the arms .21 are hinged to the traveler blocks 33' as shown in Figure 4 and are arranged to befolded-flatagain'st the-rear face of the beam 30 when the travelers are at their extreme'plosition and to be held in such folded position by the ends of the yoke 66, as shown in Figure 5. If desired, the traveler blocks can be sot reme position by having projecting mu sel positioned on the bar .38 so as to enter apertures 21.2 in the arms "21 when the parts are in this position. The bars 36 have swingable arms 38 pivoted at 3 9 at'their lower ends which serve as ledge elements to support a sheet or book'resting against the rack.

The same pivot that carries the bars 3| has mounted thereon a vertical crossbar 40. The bar 49 has pivoted at its lower end a ledge element 35 in horizontal alinement with the ledge elements 38 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1. j 1" w i At the upper end of bar M3, there is a clamp 42 pivoted at 43 having an arm Mby means of which it is swung to its open position and having 7 spring which normally closes the clamp.

A yoke-like bar Miisfixedly mounted on the rear end of the pivot 32 soas to swing in unison withthe barrel]. This yoke 45 is provided with shoulders that cooperate with pins 46.! and ifil for limiting the movement of the bar 40 and with Fig. 4 and a position of parallelism with the main beam 30. The bars 40 and 46 are secured in fixed relation to each other as by squaring the adjacent portions of the pivot 32 or otherwise fixing these bars on the pivot.

Eachend of the beam 30 is provided with a transversely slotted head 50 in which a hinge blade 5| is pivoted. Spring pointer arms 52 are pivotally mounted on the blades 5| in such a manner as to bear against and swing along the plane of the copy that might be mounted on the rack and the blades 5! may also be swung upwardly to carry the pointer arms 52 around the'beam 40 so that they may occupy the position in which these arms are'shown in Fig. 5, when the rack is completely folded. a

The operation of the device shown is as follows:

In the compact form' which the device presents whenfolded, as shown in Fig. 11, it is about the same length as. a typewriter frame and may accordingly be readily stored inja compartment in a case that might be designed for carrying the typewriter. Y

To set up the device, the foot bars H! which form the closure for the housing are swung'down on the pivot 51 so as to open the front of the housing The heel block-l6 is pushed into the member I until the latter rests on the foot bars and the latch member 2! is then swung down to fix the foot bars the standard is then tilte'dforward and latchedln this position by the pawls l0.

To spread open the rack frame, the page'holder spring arms 52 are swung to the front side of the rack on their'blades 5|. Then the latch 41 is released and the vertical cross bar 40 is swung toits transverse position with respect to the main beam where it is locked by the latch 41.

The turning of the vertical bar carries withit the yoke bar 46 because of the fact that these bars are faston the same pivot. T his releases the ends of the arms 2'! which are then grasped by the their spread position. The upper section 9 of hands of the operator and employed to shift the travelers 33 to their innermost positions, causing the toggle arms to spread the crossed bars 3|. 7

The rearwardends of the arms 21 are now interlocked in their. mortises 2H and seated in the grooves 26 where they are secured by turning the button 28 at the upper end of the standard to its locking position, as indicated by arrow 28.l in Fig. 3 where it is shown in its off position, 180 from the locking position. 1

The ledge members 38, and M are now turned down andthe device is ready for use.

The standard is adjustable vertically by, re-

leasing the spring-pressed dog 4 from engagement with the, member 2 and sliding that member to any desired position. 'It is to be noted that the footbars lie fiat upon the surface upon which the device rests and are, therefore, appropriately located to permit a typewriter to be set over them so as to afford additional anchorage for the structure. It is also to be noted that theforward tilt of the standard allows the arms 21 to be com paratively short, so that they stand at a wide angle to each other with the weight of the rack and its contents located substantially over. the

center of area of the triangle thatis defined by the foot bars 19. I

The spring arms 52 being swingable in a vertical plane about their axes serve notonly to hold the copy sheet securely against therack or to hold open the pages of a book or pamphlet that might rest on the rack, but they also can be employed to indicate the particular lines that are being copied.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that details as set forth may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a rack comprising a horizontal beam, a pair of diagonal bars pivotally mounted on said beam, a pair of travelers respectively mounted at opposite ends of said beam and longitudinally slidable thereon, two pairs of toggle-jointed spreader arms having their joints respectively pivoted to said travelers and having their ends pivoted to said diagonal bars, a pair of rearwardly extending arms respectively connected to said travelers, and a standard adapted to engage the rearward ends of said rearwardly extending arms for supporting said rack in front of said standard.

2. In a device of the class described, a rack comprising a horizontal beam, a pair of diagonal bars pivotally mounted on said beam, a pair of travelers respectively mounted at opposite ends of said beam and longitudinally slidable thereon, and two pairs of toggle-jointed spreader arms having their joints respectively pivoted to said travelers and having their ends pivoted to said diagonal bars.

3. In a device of the class described, a rack comprising a horizontal beam, a pair of diagonal bars pivotally mounted on said beam, a pair of travelers respectively mounted at opposite ends of said beam and longitudinally slidable thereon, two pairs of toggle-jointed spreader arms having their joints respectively pivoted to said travelers and having their ends pivoted to said diagonal bars, and a vertical cross bar pivoted at its medial point on said horizontal beam to swing into parallelism therewith.

4. In a device of the class described, a rack comprising a horizontal beam, a pair of diagonal bars pivotally mounted on said beam, a pair of travelers respectively mounted at opposite ends of said beam and longitudinally slidable thereon, two pairs of toggle-jointed spreader arms having their joints respectively pivoted to said travelers and having their ends pivoted to said diagonal bars, a vertical cross bar pivoted at its medial point on said horizontal beam to swing into parallelism therewith, and means for locking said vertical cross bar in its vertical position.

5. In a device of the class described, a rack comprising a horizontal beam, a pair of diagonal bars pivotally mounted on said beam, a pair of travelers respectively mounted at opposite ends of said beam and longitudinally slidable thereon, two pairs of toggle-jointed spreader arms having their joints respectively pivoted to said travelers and having their ends pivoted to said diagonal bars, a vertical cross bar pivoted at its medial point on said horizontal beam to swing into parallelism therewith, and retractible ledge means on the lower ends of said vertical cross bar and spreader arms.

6. In a device of the class described, a rack comprising a horizontal beam, a pair of diagonal bars pivotally mounted on said beam, a pair of travelers respectively mounted at opposite ends of said beam and longitudinally slidable thereon, two pairs of toggle-jointed spreader arms having their joints respectively pivoted to said travelers and having their ends pivoted to said diagonal bars, a pair of rearwardly extending arms respectively connected to said travelers, said rearwardly extending arms being swingable into and out of the plane of said rack and being adapted to interlock with each other in their rearwardly extended position.

7. In a device of the class described, a rack comprising a horizontal beam, a pair of diagonal bars pivotally mounted on said beam, a pair of travelers respectively mounted at opposite ends of said beam and longitudinally slidable thereon, two pairs of toggle-jointed spreader arms having their joints respectively pivoted to said travelers and having their ends pivoted to said diagonal bars, a pair of rearwardly extending arms respectively connected to said travelers, said rearwardly extending arms being swingable into and out of the plane of said rack and having their rearward end portions oppositely mortised for interlocking in crossed relation in their rearwardly extended position.

8. In a device of the class described, a rack comprising a horizontal beam, a pair of diagonal bars pivotally mounted on said beam, a pair of travelers respectively mounted at opposite ends of said beam and longitudinally slidable thereon, two pairs of toggle-jointed spreader arms having their joints respectively pivoted to said travelers and having their ends pivoted to said diagonal bars, a pair of rearwardly extending arms respectively connected to said travelers, said rearwardly extending arms being swingable into and out of the plane of said rack and being adapted to interlock with each other in their rearwardly extended position, a standard having at its top a seat for the interlocked ends of said rearwardly extending arms, and means for securing said arms in said seat.

9. In a device of the class described, a standard comprising a pair of telescoping channel bars, means for securing said channel bars in adjustable longitudinal relation to each other, a base comprising a pair of bars connected to one of said channels and swingable toward and away from each other in a horizontal plane, means for locking said bars in fixed relation to said standard when occupying such angular position, and each of said bars being also swingable so as to lie along said channels to close the open side thereof when said bars are released from said locking means.

10. A device of the class described, comprising telescopically interfitting hollow standard members, one having a base formed of angularly disposed foot bars, foldable to lie along said one standard member and another said standard member having an extension tiltably mounted at its upper end, a head on said extension, and a foldable sheet-rack carried by said head.

EARL T. RYANG. 

